Celtic future fires up Forrest

Celtic future fires up Forrest

Published Oct. 6, 2012 9:15 a.m. ET

Celtic winger James Forrest declared Neil Lennon's young team would continue to improve together after signing a new four-year deal.

The 21-year-old yesterday signed an improved contract tying him to Parkhead until December 2016, while Adam Matthews and Charlie Mulgrew both penned new deals that secure their futures until the summer of the same year.

The long-term deals show Celtic are keen to build on their first away win in the Champions League group stages, which came against Spartak Moscow on Tuesday.

Forrest told Celtic TV: "I had another three years left on my contract but that's me here for another four years now so I'm delighted.

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"I have been here since I was nine. I have always wanted to play for Celtic and I want to continue playing for Celtic.

"Most of the players have been here for the last two seasons now. We are gelling well and I think we are playing really well now.

"The squad is pretty young and the more games we play together, I think the better the team will get.

"You want to play in the Champions League and Celtic have been in that a lot for the last 10 years so I want to stay at Celtic."

Former Cardiff right-back Matthews completed his new contract negotiations within seven days of declaring himself open to an offer after Lennon spoke of his desire to get players tied up.

The 20-year-old said: "Last season couldn't have gone much better. We won the league in my first season and I got in team of the year.

"I was happy with that and I think this season I have carried the form on and hopefully I can keep it going.

"The club is moving in the right direction. We have shown in the Champions League we can compete at the highest level so hopefully we can keep that going and have a few more seasons in it.

"We want to win the league by as many points as possible and hopefully get a good run in the Champions League, which we have made a good start in.

"So hopefully we can keep keep it going and qualify for the next round."

Celtic face a double header against Barcelona next in the tournament but Mulgrew is intent on going on a winning run in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League as Hearts prepare to visit Parkhead tomorrow.

"It was a great win for us during the week and we need to continue that in our domestic form," Mulgrew said.

"Hearts always give us a difficult game. Hopefully the crowd get behind us and drive us on to get three points because that's important.

"We won the last game and it was a big game away to Motherwell to go top of the league.

"We want to stay there and we need to continue winning and keep our eye on domestic football."

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